Portfolio

Girls Brigade awards

Affinity provided technical support at a Girls Brigade awards ceremony in November.

Girls attended the event with their parents and group leaders. Affinity staff and crew decorated the venue the night before and looked after lighting, audio and AV on the day.

“Affinity did an amazing job and transformed the room! We knew we were in safe hands – they ensured everything ran smoothly so we could concentrate on chatting to the young people the event was for.”

Nikki Griffin, Girls Brigade England & Wales Event Co-ordinator

Posted in Charity & Events by Client & Not For Profit & Technical Production & Types of Event & Youth Events

Home Improvement Agencies annual conference 2009

Foundations, the national body for Home Improvement Agencies, used Affinity Events to meet set, sound, lighting and audio-visual requirements for its annual meeting in Stratford-upon-Avon last week.

Around 250 delegates and speakers met at the Holiday Inn for the 1.5 day conference, titled Transforming Services, Transforming Lives. The Affinity team looked after their main venue and four breakout rooms.

“Thank you for making my job so much easier this year. I could relax knowing that it was all going smoothly. You were able to respond to last minute requests and pleas with good humour - quite a few colleagues commented on how professional you were.”

Foundations Communications Executive, Lynne Bonnett

Posted in Conferences & Events by Client & Meetings & Seminars & Not For Profit & Technical Production & Testimonials & Types of Event

Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage 2009

Affinity Events again supported a successful youth pilgrimage in Walsingham in August this year.

Sunny weather helped as staff and crew built the outdoor venues and infrastructure for a week-long camping event.

Affinity also provided all the technical equipment and set in the main Big Top venue, which was used for worship and entertainment by the 800 young people who attended and their leaders.

Affinity also supported the attendees as they took part in a silent, candlelit procession through Walsingham to the village shrine one evening, ensuring everyone was kept safe.

Posted in Charity & Event Campsites & Events by Client & Festivals & Not For Profit & Technical Production & Types of Event & Youth Events

Amsterdam 400

Baptists from around the world were supported by Affinity’s technical team as when they gathered in Amsterdam this year.

The European Baptist Federation (EBF) employed Affinity to work in its main meeting space at the RAI centre, where delegates celebrated 400 years of Baptist life in Europe.

“We found Affinity professional, easy to work with and they provided excellent technical support for our event. We would certainly recommend them for similar events.”

EBF General Secretary Tony Peck

Posted in Charity & Conferences & Events by Client & Meetings & Seminars & Not For Profit & Technical Production & Testimonials & Types of Event

Moorlands College events management course

Students at Moorlands College in Christchurch got involved in event management when Affinity trainers ran a course there this month.

Based on a “live event” scenario, the two-day course guided a group of 23 students through: choosing an event venue; putting together an event team; planning; coping with change; budgeting; marketing; health and safety; licensing and more.

Alistair McKitterick, Lecturer in Biblical and Theological Studies at the college, said: “Many thanks for a most enjoyable and rewarding experience.

“Student feedback has confirmed the value of this kind of training for their future. Affinity’s trainers were warm and engaging, full of wisdom and helpful anecdotes. Their technique added a level of excitement.”

Affinity trainers are pictured above with the ‘winning’ event management team from Moorlands. Do contact us if you’d like to find out more about Affinity’s training programmes.

Posted in Academic & Company News & Events by Client & Not For Profit & Testimonials & Training

Baptist Assembly 2009

An Affinity team was in Bournemouth this month as Baptists from around the UK gathered there for the denomination’s annual assembly.

Affinity Events worked with the Baptist Missionary Society and the Baptist Union of Great Britain to deliver the four-day event. A key part of the production team, we provided technical infrastructure, crew and expertise in the main worship space. Affinity also looked after the provision of technical equipment and crew in alternative worship venue - Prism - and organised the components of an exhibition area that greeted thousands of delegates as they entered the event space.

Posted in Charity & Conferences & Events by Client & Exhibitions & Not For Profit & Technical Production & Types of Event

Coaching Psychology conference

Affinity travelled to London’s Regent Street in December to support a flagship European conference.

The Special Group in Coaching Psychology (SGCP) with the British Psychological Society (BPS) appointed Affinity as event manager for the 1st European Coaching Psychology Conference.

The two-day conference hosted nearly 300 delegates. Many were UK-based and there was strong representation from Denmark, Germany, Sweden and even Australia. In total, 20 nations were represented.

A very busy programme included six keynote speakers, a host of workshops and masterclasses, panel discussions and meetings. Affinity handled all delegate registration and management, both in advance and live. Its staff worked with the venue, the University of Westminster, to ensure delivery of all catering and technical aspects. A lively exhibition area was managed by Affinity, as was the design and production of delegate badges and tote bags.

Delegates enjoyed being near the capital’s Christmas lights during the conference – though for Affinity staff there was little chance for last-minute seasonal shopping!

“We found Affinity Events to be a friendly, accessible, helpful resource. Their support on the ground at our conference was excellent: they demonstrated real commitment to ensuring the event ran smoothly.”

Vicky Ellam-Dyson, Chair, BPS SGCP

Posted in Academic & Conferences & Delegate Services & Events by Client & Exhibitions & Not For Profit & Testimonials

Seek, Serve, Follow tour

Affinity toured around the UK supporting the Girls’ Brigade with its Seek, Serve, Follow tour.

 

Launching Girls’ Brigade England and Wales’ new leadership resource “Seek, Serve, Follow”, the roadshow comprised seven events. These took place at church venues in Manchester, Birmingham, Yeovil, Maidstone, Sutton, Chelmsford and Portsmouth between October and December 2008.

 

Affinity was a member of the event team, providing technical and general support at all events.

Posted in Charity & Events by Client & Launches & Rebranding & Not For Profit & Roadshows & Youth Events

Walsingham youth pilgrimage 2008

Affinity was delighted to manage the  2008 Youth Event at Walsingham for the second year running. Our team of event and production managers worked with the organisers for several months, creating an infrastructure, planning the layout of the campsite, obtaining technical equipment and liaising with volunteer teams.

Unfortunately, the 2007 sun did not show its face. Instead, heavy rain and hail caused flash flooding. A 6-inch river ran through the Big Top and piles of ice appeared around site. Affinity’s event and steward managers worked successfully on traffic, site and venue plans to overcome this, enabling the final event to take place in a dried-out Big Top. Departures went ahead without a hitch.

A new addition for 2008 was an ecumenical service. We are already looking forward to next year!

“Thank you for managing with such consummate professionalism. Already the Youth Pilgrimage is unimaginable without Affinity Events.  Creating safe space is vital in enabling it to happen.

“I was especially impressed with the way departure from the site was managed. Pass on my thanks to the team - they were absolutely first rate.” 

Father Philip North

Posted in Charity & Event Campsites & Not For Profit & Testimonials & Youth Events

Lambeth Conference

Following our appointment as the Lambeth Conference event manager, Affinity started an 18-month planning process with the conference organisers. Regular meetings took place with various teams including: emergency services; infrastructure suppliers; venue managers; stewards; technical suppliers; local authorities in Canterbury and London; catering co-ordinators.

This communication between groups of interested people led to the compilation of a complex operating plan for the conference, supplying everyone with relevant information to ensure the effective delivery of the conference.

The planning process culminated in the conference build starting 10 days before the arrival of the delegates, with the main venue being specifically designed and built for the Lambeth Conference.

The Conference lasted for three weeks with delegates taking part in plenary and group sessions. Affinity set up an exhibition area for 45 exhibitors . A full, three-week programme for the bishops’ spouses and over 60 fringe events became an integral part of the overall programme. Affinity Events managed the Walk of Witness, one of London’s biggest faith demonstrations supporting the delivery of the Millenium Goals, as part of the conference activity.

Affinity is proud to have been associated with this momentous event.

“I would like to underline my gratitude to you and all your colleagues at Affinity Events for all that you contributed. I am under no illusions about the complexity of the logistics for which you were responsible, both in Canterbury and on the London day”

 

Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams

Posted in Conferences & Exhibitions & Meetings & Seminars & Not For Profit & Receptions & Dinners & Technical Production & Testimonials